Ride leader: John Clark,
Riders: Jackie Rhodes, David Rhodes, Justine King, Karen Cleminson, Mick Lee and Martin Crapper.
Ok so I almost didn’t make it - Brakes failed at first attempt, swapped bikes, got to cricket club together with drizzle so had to go back for rain jacket. We were ready to set off at almost 10 past 9! In the circumstances I got away with that quite lightly!
John, who thinks he is a sprinter if is signature is anything to go by, had found a new coffee stop and biked us in. We were all hoping there would be seats for us all — it looked small. We set off left through the gates and wandered, bravely with hardly a rain jacket to be seen, through to Wilsic Road and OK it was raining but not much — we were going to be OK !
OK, we gave in, stopped and donned rain Jackets. Welles and sou’westers were desirable but unavailable. And on we went with John up front showing the way, and we strung out following which included 2 new (to me) additions, Jackie and Justine.
Form Wilsic Road we headed left along the main road towards 5 lane ends at Edlington and then down the hill into Conisbrough. The lights were red of course but that gave us chance for regrouping and chatting — mainly about rain and traffic. Having just come down the hill we were about to turn left up the long straggling slope and then down into Hooton Roberts where this time the lights favoured us, or half of us. We moved turning right and giving those who missed the lights chance to catch up. But it was single file and wet, and somewhere along the road John did his favourite trick of shedding the chain on a perfectly flat piece of road. We smiled and kept on going.
Its a long and bumpy road through Kilnhurst and up towards the busy Swinton / Rawmarsh Road and we did the odd stop and slow down to more or less arrive at the top as a group. From there it was a case of chancing your luck on the roundabout and onto the Wentworth Road then along the long straight to Upper Haigh with a quick right then left onto the B6090 with more ups and downs.
From there it was easy going in the sense that some of us got a bit behind but there were no complicated turnings to get lost at. Well after we turned right that is and we regrouped on the outskirts of Wentworth before heading to the café.
Now this café looked small when I checked it out on Google earth’s street view, but it is even small in real life. Bike went round the back and we ignored the warning signs that the steep garden was wet and slippery and took our bikes there whilst we went in to investigate. “very Homely” probably covers it — and welcoming, and surprisingly large inside. We got out of the drizzle and took the table in the corner and another against the window for the two who couldn’t squeeze in.
The web site, yes it has a web site doesn’t give any idea of size but loads of ideas about cakes and buns and there was plenty on offer. Most seemed to go for the Bacon sandwich with red or brown source. It nearly put me off food but I managed a scone. Coffee was served in large cafetières and tea in pots all with rather dainty china cups. Hot chocolate came in a glass mug and was washed down with the remnants of our coffee!
Having finished we collected our bikes and prepared for a group photo and it wasn’t raining. Jackie seems to have the most flexible arms and had a shot at a group selfie but then Justine dragged the chef (?) out and he took a more relaxed photo (or dozens!).
We set off, many without rain jackets because it wasn’t raining. We set off back the way we came but kept straight on until we met Stubbin Lane. This would have been difficult turn were it not for a kind motorist who stopped to let us out. We went on through Nether Haugh and towards Greasbrough before heading to Parkgate.
To be fair we were advised/warned that this would be the difficult bit as the Margate roundabout is busy every day all day. We turned onto the footpath/cycleway and it worked OK except a couple did get stopped at the supermarket entrance by shoppers going in and out. So we waited a while until we were all together and started up the hill. Just where you start to think we re at the top, John indicates right and we find a better steeper hill. And of course we get spread out. But at a levelling out of the hill is a right turn and an archway for the faster ones to rest/wait/shelter and prepare for the next hill. Where did all the down bits go? well they went to Ravenfield where we arrived, by now with rain jackets on, except for Jackie who decided she would rather be a bit wet than very hot. The flat or slightly sloping roads were a pleasure after those hills and of course it couldn’t last. We turned left towards Micklebring with its ups and downs and regrouped just before turning right towards Braithwell. Despite fairly heavy rain the road down towards Crookhill Lane wasn’t completely flooded, more wet and dirty.
But having gone right and then left into Limekiln Road we began to appreciate that so far the roads had been clean. Right red muddy water was running down the road sides and this continued and increase as we reached Tickhill Back Lane. We were getting covered in mud - unitil somewhere after we gegan to go down Apy Lane the puddles became cleaner and the mud on backs and bikes seemed to disappear. It was all in the mind, we were filthy. Surprisingly as we reached Tickhill, two members of the red ride, one still on bike the other in a car recognised us and waved. They were probably just as wet!
Great destination, John, good route, shame about the weather but I enjoyed it. It was another good ride, well done. Hopefully we will see the newcomers again, and the rest of course.
